The Town FilesLas Animas, Colorado
City in Bent County · population 2,300 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,700
- Household income
- $51,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.3
Las Animas is a city of 2,300 people in Bent County, Colorado. The median home is worth $132,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks hipper than 92% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 72% of Colorado towns.
How Las Animas ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Las Animas is worth $132,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $51,875, which is more affordable than 97% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,211 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Las Animas | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,211 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $51,875 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Las Animas
| People | Las Animas | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 92.9% |
Weather in Las Animas
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 13.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.2 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Las Animas since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 22, 1975 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on October 11, 1997.
Severe weather in Bent County since 1996
Bent County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Bent County
Bent County had 1,178 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,755 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Las Animas itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Las Animas
4 public schools with 444 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Animas Elementary School | K-6 | 234 | 21.3 |
| Las Animas High School | 9-12 | 126 | 15.8 |
| Las Animas Junior High School | 7-8 | 70 | 14.0 |
| Jump Start Learning Center | PK-PK | 14 | — |
Towns near Las Animas
- La Junta, CO18.7 mi · 7,322 people · home $194,800
- Swink, CO22.4 mi · 604 people · home $163,000
- Rocky Ford, CO27.2 mi · 3,876 people · home $143,900
Las Animas questions
Is Las Animas, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Las Animas scores better for retirees than 53% of Colorado towns and quieter than 57%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Las Animas?
The median owner-occupied home in Las Animas is valued at $132,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,875, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,211 a month.
What is the weather like in Las Animas?
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 16.2 inches of snow.
Does Las Animas get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Las Animas since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 22, 1975. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)